I don't recall him being drafted to be President! When one becomes a PUBLIC SERVANT, it is to serve the public, NOT themselves or their family.

I was trying not to weigh in on this too heavily, but since I have been absorbed into it, I will state that I have no problem believing this number.
Michelle "let them eat cake" Obama has more personal aids and servants than ANY other first lady! The Obamas are notorious for their lavish
Hollywood extravaganzas at the WH which cost the tax-payers a bundle. They vacation more than any other president - even flying their dog separately
at a tax-payer expense of over $200,000!!!

Their expenses are RIDICULOUS! Their extravagance is RIDICULOUS! Their attitude of entitlement is RIDICULOUS! In short, the behavior of this first
family is more in line with that of a monarch than that of a PUBLIC SERVANT!

Originally posted by Chance321
It's funny how if this were a Republican President it seems everyone would believe it and be outraged. But since we're talking about obama, then the
storys BS? Personally, I think the price is probably pretty close.

I would only believe it if they were talking about Reagan. The Reagans lived a life of royalty while in office with never ending high class balls to
entertain the rich and famous. I haven't seen that level of excess since.

Originally posted by Kaploink
I would only believe it if they were talking about Reagan. The Reagans lived a life of royalty while in office with never ending high class balls to
entertain the rich and famous. I haven't seen that level of excess since.

I think now days most of the spending goes toward security.

Then you're not paying attention! The Obamas have held dozens of high-profile events at the WH hosting celebrities and athletes! In fact, the cost
of their "State" dinners has come up numerous times.

And you are correct on one front - security spending has seen a huge increase. That would be expected when you have to house a contingent of 200
secret service agents in ocean-side villas in Hawaii while you vacation for 3 weeks!!! Or when Michelle and friends want to go parading around Europe
on an 11-day shopping spree!!!

Personally, with the economy in the shape it is, I think "we the people" need to audit the white house and congress. Belt tightening should begin
with the leadership. If the defense budget needs to be cut (and it does), I believe all areas should be considered for budget cuts, including dog
trainers. You know, he could make an example for the people...

You can't bash the "evil rich elite" or "evil bankers", and then turn around and staff a dog trainer to the tune of 100k a year. Face it folks,
he is the elite.

Originally posted by Chance321
It's funny how if this were a Republican President it seems everyone would believe it and be outraged. But since we're talking about obama, then the
storys BS? Personally, I think the price is probably pretty close.

No it's the fact that this is not news. Almost every president has had a dog, cat, maid,cook.Some have even had personal astrologers. For this story
to represent news it would have to compare all president expenditures and show how Obama's budget grossly exceeds the others. Otherwise it's just a
divide and conquer thread with lots of partisan dribble.

This breaks out all of the expenses, cites sources etc... After combing through just a precursory amount of data, the $1.4B figure sounds accurate.

I took a look at the link! Finally some real numbers and it's shocking! As usual the Obama bots are making excuses, pointing at others, or simply
plugging their ears and singing the la la la la song. Spending is way out of control and the solution is to raise taxes on the wealthy? Give me a
break!

This breaks out all of the expenses, cites sources etc... After combing through just a precursory amount of data, the $1.4B figure sounds accurate.

I took a look at the link! Finally some real numbers and it's shocking! As usual the Obama bots are making excuses, pointing at others, or simply
plugging their ears and singing the la la la la song. Spending is way out of control and the solution is to raise taxes on the wealthy? Give me a
break!

Pladuim

Yes the numbers are shockingly non existent, low or complete guesses. And what does this have to do with Obama other than he is the current
President? You mean the White House did not exist unitl 2008?

Isn't Obama the one that said he would cut the deficit in half in his first term? Just like I said, blame others without doing anything about it! Get
it through your thick skull, SPENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL! What part do you not understand? Republicans and Democrats are both guilty and it continues
under Obama and his administration. Just continue praising your savior, he does no wrong.

Originally posted by MystiqueAgent
And I thought I was bad with my food bills.

[edit]
Wait a minute

For example, the White House contains a movie theatre which is manned by projectionists 24 hours a day in case one of the family feels like a trip to
the cinema.

Why?

Simply put, this is a bald face lie. Imagine the space needed to house a staff, available 24-hours a day, to accommodate the every whim of the POTUS
and family. They would need a house 10x the size of it's current capacity. NOW, maybe...MAYBE the white house chef moonlights as the projectionist,
but one would have to be damn gullible to buy this story. But hey, it must be true; after all it's posted on the internet....and as Abraham Lincoln
once said "everything on the internet is 100% true".

Okay I was about to say I've seen a bit of the white house ( not from the inside ) and given it's size it just seems like it wouldn't have the
space to hold one. I also knew Lincoln was on the internet! Speaking of which isn't the Daily mail usually regarded as something...questionable?

You sir are apparently suffering from a condition recognized as Cognitive Dissonance!

Festinger's (1957) cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and beliefs in harmony and avoid
disharmony (or dissonance).

Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. This produces a feeling of discomfort leading to an
alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance etc.

Most people suffering from Cognitive Dissonance will resist any presentation of reality that distorts their more familiar and comfortable beliefs.

The evidence has been presented - it is cited with sources. You CHOOSE to resist its reality, but doing so does nothing to change said facts.

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